Wastewater treatment system

Abstract

A dual tank wastewater treatment system for performing an extended aeration process to provide a natural, biological breakdown of the organic matter in wastewater using, for example, but not limited to, a continuously operating air pump and diffuser bar system for aeration purposes and a flexible media filter. The air pump used is stronger than conventional air pumps and the diffuser bar is designed to provide more efficient oxygen transfer than conventional diffuser systems by mixing air against the system flow to provide better mixing and longer retention time in the aeration process. The flexible media filter provides a final filtration and polishing of the effluent before it passes through a flow equalization apparatus and exits the system.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A wastewater treatment apparatus comprising:
 a two chamber tank component including only:
 a first chamber including an inlet opening defined in an inlet wall and a lower chamber portion; 
 a second chamber including an outlet opening defined in an outlet wall and a lower chamber portion; and 
 a common wall between said first and second chambers, the common wall having a bottom opening in a lowermost portion and the common wall bottom opening providing direct fluid communication between the lower chamber portion of the first chamber and the lower chamber portion of the second chamber; 
 
 a diffuser bar assembly having a substantially rectangular shape with a length about 4 times a width of the assembly and being oriented with the length extending from the inlet wall of the first chamber toward the common wall and the diffuser bar assembly including a plurality of holes spaced substantially evenly along a longitudinal mid-line of the length of and on opposite sides of each pipe extending along the length and the width of the diffuser bar assembly; 
 a continuously operating air pump being connected to a proximal end of an air line and the air line being in gaseous communication with the diffuser bar assembly; and 
 an outlet filter assembly connected to and in fluid communication with the outlet opening, the outlet filter assembly comprising:
 a brush filter assembly including a substantially open cylindrical frame element made of two substantially annular plastic end ring portions being rigidly connected to each other by a plurality of co-axially aligned plastic rods and an outlet face side portion having formed therein an outlet line access port substantially perpendicular to and extending away from the plurality of plastic rods, and a first plurality of brush rope elements vertically attached between and around an outer circumference of the two substantially annular plastic end ring portions and co-axially aligned with the plurality of plastic rods to substantially cover an outer side surface and a second plurality of brush rope elements horizontally attached across a bottom one of the substantially annular plastic end ring portions, and 
 a flow equalization apparatus including an upright cylindrical tube having a closed bottom end, an open top end, an outlet tube connected to and extending substantially perpendicularly away from and in fluid communication with the upright cylindrical tube, the outlet tube extending through an outlet line cap attached to an end of an outlet line inside the brush filter assembly and into and in fluid communication with the outlet line, a standard flow port formed in the upright cylindrical tube between the closed bottom end of the upright cylindrical tube and the outlet tube, an elevated flow port formed in the upright cylindrical tube adjacent an open top end of the upright cylindrical tube and above the outlet tube, and a peak flow port being defined by the open top end of the upright cylindrical tube. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first chamber further comprises:
 a top wall extending substantially perpendicularly away from a top end of the inlet wall and extending toward and connecting to a top end of the common wall and the top wall continuing toward and connecting to a top end of the outlet wall of the second chamber, the common wall extending substantially perpendicularly downwardly away from the top wall, a first chamber access opening formed in the top wall above the first chamber, and a second chamber access opening formed in the top wall above the second chamber; 
 a bottom wall extending substantially perpendicularly away from a bottom end of the inlet wall and extending toward and connecting to a bottom end of the outlet wall of the second chamber; 
 a pair of opposite side walls each extending substantially perpendicularly away from opposite side edges of the inlet wall, along opposite side edges of the top wall and the bottom wall toward and connecting to opposite side edges of the common wall; 
 a first riser assembly encircling the first chamber access opening and connected to a top side of the top wall above the first chamber; 
 and 
 an air release line extending from inside the first riser assembly and along the top of the top wall toward and into the second riser assembly to permit the escape of air from the first chamber; 
 wherein the second chamber further comprises a second riser assembly encircling the second chamber access opening and connected to a top side of the top wall above the second chamber. 
 
     
     
       3. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein each riser assembly comprises:
 a substantially cylindrical wall encircling a respective access opening and sealingly connected to the top side of the top wall above its respective chamber; 
 a cover removeably positioned on a top edge of the substantially cylindrical wall; and 
 a vent assembly affixed to a top of the cover and extending through the cover to permit fluid communication between an air space outside of the tank and the inside of the riser assembly and tank. 
 
     
     
       4. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the vent assembly affixed to the first riser assembly only permits air to flow into the first riser assembly; and
 the vent assembly affixed to the second riser assembly permits air to flow into and out of the second riser assembly. 
 
     
     
       5. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes in the diffuser bar assembly are approximately 1/16 inch in diameter. 
     
     
       6. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of holes in the diffuser bar assembly are arranged in pairs substantially aligned on opposite sides and along the longitudinal mid-lines of each pipe and each pipe has an approximately ¾ inch diameter. 
     
     
       7. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of holes in the diffuser bar assembly comprises about 60 along each side of each length of the diffuser bar assembly and about 4 along each side of each width of the diffuser bar assembly. 
     
     
       8. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the diffuser bar assembly comprises a plurality of support elements extending downwardly from a bottom of the diffuser bar assembly. 
     
     
       9. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the diffuser bar assembly comprises an air inlet tube extending upwardly from a center portion of the diffuser bar assembly and the center portion being in fluid communication with both lengths and both widths of the diffuser bar assembly. 
     
     
       10. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the standard flow port comprises a ¼ inch diameter opening positioned about 2 inches below a bottom of the outlet tube. 
     
     
       11. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the elevated flow port comprises a ⅜ inch diameter opening positioned about 2.5 inches below a top of the upright cylindrical tube and about 7 inches above the bottom of the outlet tube. 
     
     
       12. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the upright cylindrical tube comprises a 1.5 inch diameter PVC pipe and the peak flow port defined thereby comprises a 1.5 inch diameter opening. 
     
     
       13. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the bottom of the outlet tube is substantially parallel to and aligned with a bottom of the outlet line. 
     
     
       14. A wastewater treatment system comprising:
 a two chamber tank component including only:
 an aeration chamber including an outlet wall, an inlet wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, an inlet opening formed in the inlet wall and permitting direct fluid communication between an inside of the aeration chamber and an inlet pipe affixed in the inlet opening, an access opening formed in the aeration chamber top wall, an aeration chamber access opening riser sealingly positioned around the aeration chamber access opening and an aeration chamber riser cover removably positioned on top of the aeration chamber access opening riser, and an aeration chamber inlet vent formed in the riser cover; and 
 a clarification chamber adjacent to and separated from the aeration chamber by a common wall extending substantially perpendicularly downwardly away from a bottom surface of a top wall of the clarification chamber toward a top surface of a bottom wall of the clarification chamber, the clarification chamber further including an outlet wall, an inlet wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, and an outlet opening formed in the clarification chamber outlet wall and being in direct fluid communication with an outside of the clarification chamber via an outlet pipe affixed in the outlet opening, and a clarification chamber access opening formed in the clarification chamber top wall, a clarification chamber access opening riser sealingly positioned around the clarification chamber access opening and a clarification chamber riser cover removably positioned on top of the clarification chamber access opening riser, and a clarification chamber inlet vent formed in the clarification chamber riser cover; 
 
 an air release line extending from and in fluid communication with an inside of the aeration chamber and along the top of the top wall toward, through and into the clarification chamber access opening riser to permit the escape of air from the first chamber into the clarification chamber access opening riser; 
 a diffuser bar assembly including a plurality of connected pipe sections and having a substantially rectangular shape with a length about 4 times a width of the diffuser bar assembly and being oriented with the length extending from the inlet wall of the aeration chamber toward the common wall and the diffuser bar assembly including a plurality of holes spaced substantially evenly along a longitudinal mid-line of the length of an on opposite sides of each pipe section extending along the length and the width of the diffuser bar assembly; 
 a continuously circulating air pump located in the aeration chamber riser and being connected to a proximal end of an air line and a distal end of the air line being connected to the diffuser bar assembly and the air pump being in gaseous communication with the diffuser bar assembly via the air line; and 
 an outlet filter assembly surrounding and connected to the outlet pipe, the outlet filter assembly comprising:
 a brush filter assembly including a substantially open cylindrical frame element made of two substantially annular plastic end portions rigidly connected to each other by a plurality of plastic rods and an outlet face side portion having formed therein an outlet line access port substantially perpendicular to and extending away from the plurality of plastic rods, and a first plurality of brush rope elements vertically attached between and around an outer circumference of the two substantially annular plastic end ring portions and co-axially aligned with the plurality of plastic rods to substantially cover around an outer side surface and a second plurality of brush rope elements horizontally attached across a bottom one of the substantially annular plastic end ring portions, and 
 a flow equalization apparatus including an upright cylindrical tube having a closed bottom end, an outlet tube connected to and extending substantially perpendicularly away from and in fluid communication with the upright cylindrical tube, the outlet tube extending through an outlet pipe cap attached to an end of an outlet pipe inside the brush filter assembly and into and in fluid communication with the outlet pipe, a standard flow port formed in the upright cylindrical tube between the closed bottom end of the upright cylindrical tube and below the outlet tube, an elevated flow port formed in the upright cylindrical tube between an open top end of the upright cylindrical tube and above the outlet tube, and a peak flow port defined by the open top end of the upright, cylindrical tube. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The wastewater treatment system of  claim 14  wherein the aeration chamber inlet vent only permits air to flow into the aeration chamber riser. 
     
     
       16. The wastewater treatment system of  claim 14  wherein the diffuser bar assembly comprises:
 a first side including two substantially cylindrical pipe sections connected together in a middle to form a first straight length; 
 a second side including two more substantially cylindrical pipe sections connected together in a middle to form a second straight length; 
 a middle section having opposite ends with one of each of the opposite ends connected to the middle of one of the first side and the second side; 
 a first end including a first short, straight pipe section connected at one end to first connector and at a second end to a second connector and the unconnected ends of each of the first and second connectors being connected to first ends of the first and second sides; and 
 a second end including a second short, straight pipe section connected at one end to third connector and at a second end to a fourth connector and the unconnected ends of each of the third and fourth connectors being connected to opposite ends of the first and second sides; 
 wherein the first and second sides have a plurality of air holes formed in and along the mid-line of the length of and on opposite sides of each pipe section. 
 
     
     
       17. The wastewater treatment system of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of air holes have a diameter of about 1/16 inch. 
     
     
       18. The wastewater treatment system of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of air holes are spaced apart by about 11/16 inch along each midline on each side of the first and second sides. 
     
     
       19. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the standard flow port comprises a ¼ inch diameter opening positioned about 2 inches below a bottom of the outlet tube. 
     
     
       20. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the elevated flow port comprises a ⅜ inch diameter opening positioned about 2.5 inches below a top of the upright cylindrical tube and about 7 inches above the bottom of the outlet tube. 
     
     
       21. A wastewater treatment system comprising:
 a dual chamber tank including an outlet wall, an inlet wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, a left side wall, a right side wall, and a common inner wall, the dual chamber tank including only:
 an aerobic chamber including an inlet opening formed in the inlet wall, the inlet opening adapted for an inlet line to pass through the inlet opening into and be in direct fluid communication with an inside of the aerobic chamber, an air line opening formed in a top wall of the tank, an access opening cover sealingly positioned in an access opening formed in the tank top wall, and an aeration exhaust vent formed in the tank top wall; and 
 a clarification chamber adjacent to and separated from the aerobic chamber by the common inner wall extending substantially perpendicularly downwardly away from a bottom side of the tank top wall toward a top side of a bottom wall of the tank, the clarification chamber including an outlet opening formed in an outlet wall of the tank and adapted for an outlet line to pass from inside the clarification chamber and through the outlet wall and to be in immediate and direct fluid communication with an outside of the tank, and an access opening formed in the tank top wall above the clarification chamber; 
 
 a diffuser bar assembly having a substantially rectangular shape with a length at least 4 times a width of the assembly and being oriented with the length extending from the inlet wall toward the common wall and the diffuser bar assembly including at least 200 1/16″ diameter holes spaced substantially evenly along a longitudinal mid-line of the length of and on opposite pipe sections extending along the length and the width of the diffuser bar assembly; 
 an air pump riser assembly covering an air pump and surrounding the air line opening and being sealingly connected to the tank top wall; 
 an inspection riser assembly covering the access opening and being sealingly connected to the tank top wall; and 
 an outlet filter assembly comprising:
 a brush filter assembly including a substantially open cylindrical frame element made of two substantially annular plastic end ring portions being rigidly connected by a plurality of co-axially aligned plastic rods and an outlet face side portion having formed therein an outlet line access port substantially perpendicular to and extending away from the plurality of plastic rods, and a first plurality of brush rope elements vertically attached between and around an outer circumference of the two substantially annular plastic end ring portions and co-axially aligned with the plurality of plastic rods to substantially cover an outer side surface and a second plurality of brush rope elements horizontally attached across a bottom one of the substantially annular plastic end ring portions, and 
 a flow equalization apparatus including an upright cylindrical tube having a closed bottom end, an outlet tube connected to and extending substantially perpendicularly away from and in fluid communication with the upright cylindrical tube, the outlet tube extending through an outlet line cap attached to an end of an outlet line inside the clarification chamber and into and in immediate and direct fluid communication with the outlet line, a standard flow port being formed in the upright cylindrical tube between the closed bottom end of the upright cylindrical tube and the outlet tube, an elevated flow port being formed in the upright cylindrical tube adjacent an open top end of the upright cylindrical tube and above the outlet tube, and the open top end of the upright cylindrical tube forming a peak flow port. 
 
 
     
     
       22. The wastewater treatment system of  claim 21  wherein the diffuser bar assembly comprises:
 a first side formed as a first substantially straight cylindrical pipe section; 
 a second side formed as a second substantially straight cylindrical pipe section; 
 a first end including a first short, straight pipe section connected at one end to a first connector and at a second end to a second connector and each other end of the first and second connectors connected to one of a first end of the first and second sides; and 
 a second end including a second short, straight pipe section connected at one end to a third connector and at a second end to a fourth connector and each other end of the third and fourth connectors is separately connected to one of a second end of the first and second sides; 
 wherein the first and second sides and the first and second ends have a plurality of air holes formed in and along the longitudinal mid-line and on opposite sides of each pipe section. 
 
     
     
       23. The wastewater treatment system of  claim 22  wherein the plurality of air holes have a diameter of about 1/16 inch. 
     
     
       24. The wastewater treatment system of  claim 22  wherein the plurality of air holes are spaced apart by about 11/16 inch along each midline on each side of the first and second sides. 
     
     
       25. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the standard flow port comprises a ¼ inch diameter opening positioned about 2 inches below a bottom of the outlet tube. 
     
     
       26. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the elevated flow port comprises a ⅜ inch diameter opening positioned about 2.5 inches below a top of the upright cylindrical tube and about 7 inches above the bottom of the outlet tube and the peak flow port comprises a 1.5 inch diameter opening. 
     
     
       27. A wastewater treatment system comprising:
 a dual chamber tank comprising only:
 an aeration chamber including an inlet opening formed in an inlet wall adapted for an inlet pipe to pass through the inlet opening and into the aeration chamber, the inlet pipe being in direct fluid communication with an inside of the aeration chamber, an aeration chamber access opening formed in a top wall of the tank, an access opening riser and riser cover sealingly positioned over the aeration chamber access opening on the tank top wall, and an aeration chamber air inlet vent formed in the access opening riser cover; and 
 a clarification chamber adjacent to and separated from the aeration chamber by a common wall extending substantially perpendicularly downwardly away from a bottom side of the top wall toward a top side of a bottom wall of the tank, the clarification chamber including an outlet opening formed in an outlet wall of the clarification chamber and being adapted for an outlet pipe to pass from inside the clarification chamber and through the clarification chamber outlet wall and to be in immediate and direct fluid communication with an outside of the clarification chamber, and a clarification chamber access opening formed in the tank top wall; 
 
 a diffuser bar assembly having a substantially rectangular shape and having a length and a width and the diffuser bar assembly being oriented with the length extending from the inlet wall toward the common wall and the diffuser bar assembly including at least 200 1/16″ diameter holes spaced substantially evenly along a longitudinal mid-line of and on opposite sides of each length of the diffuser bar assembly; 
 an air line having a proximal end extending downwardly through the aeration chamber access opening and extending downwardly through the aeration chamber and a distal end of the air line connecting to the diffuser bar assembly; 
 an air pump connected on an inlet side to and receiving air from the aeration chamber air inlet vent and on an outlet side to the proximal end of the air line and being in fluid communication with the diffuser bar assembly via the air line; 
 a clarification chamber riser assembly surrounding the clarification chamber access opening and being sealingly connected to the tank top wall; and 
 an outlet filter assembly connected to and surrounding an inlet end of the outlet pipe of the clarification chamber and the outlet filter assembly comprising:
 a brush filter assembly including a substantially open cylindrical frame element having two substantially annular plastic end ring portions being rigidly connected by a plurality of co-axially aligned plastic rods and an outlet face side portion having formed therein an outlet line access port substantially perpendicular to and extending away from the plurality of plastic rods, and a first plurality of brush rope elements vertically attached between and around an outer circumference of the two substantially annular plastic end ring portions and co-axially aligned with the plurality of plastic rods to substantially cover around an outer side surface and a second plurality of brush rope elements horizontally attached across a bottom one of the substantially annular plastic end ring portions, and 
 a flow equalization apparatus including an upright cylindrical tube having a closed bottom end, an outlet tube connected to and extending substantially perpendicularly away from and in fluid communication with the upright cylindrical tube, the outlet tube extending through an outlet pipe cap attached to an end of an outlet pipe inside the clarification chamber and being in fluid communication with the outlet pipe, a standard flow port formed in the upright cylindrical tube between the closed bottom end of the upright cylindrical tube and the outlet tube, an elevated flow port formed in the upright cylindrical tube below an open top end of the upright cylindrical tube and above the outlet tube, and a peak flow port being defined by the open top end of the upright cylindrical tube. 
 
 
     
     
       28. The wastewater treatment system of  claim 27  wherein the dual chamber tank is comprised of at least one of reinforced concrete, steel and plastic. 
     
     
       29. The wastewater treatment system of  claim 28  wherein the dual chamber tank comprises:
 the inlet wall connected at a top edge to a front edge of the top wall, at a bottom edge to a bottom wall, at a left edge to a left side wall, and at a right edge to a right side wall; 
 the top wall connected to top edges of the left and right side walls along top wall left and right side edges and by a top wall back edge to a top edge of the outlet wall; and 
 the bottom wall connected to bottom edges of the left and right side walls along bottom wall left and right side edges and by a bottom wall back edge to a bottom edge of the outlet wall. 
 
     
     
       30. The wastewater treatment system of  claim 27  wherein the plurality of air holes are spaced apart by about 11/16 inch along each midline on each side of the first and second sides. 
     
     
       31. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the standard flow port comprises a ¼ inch diameter opening positioned about 2 inches below a bottom of the outlet tube, the elevated flow port comprises a ⅜ inch diameter opening positioned between about 2 to 2.5 inches below a top of the upright cylindrical tube and about 7 inches above the bottom of the outlet tube and the peak flow port comprises about a 1.5 inch diameter opening in the top of the upright cylindrical tube. 
     
     
       32. A wastewater treatment system comprising:
 a two chamber tank comprising only:
 means for aeration of wastewater including an inlet opening means in fluid communication with the aeration means, an aeration chamber access opening means, a riser assembly means sealingly positioned over and covering the aeration chamber access opening means, and an air inlet means formed in the riser assembly means; and 
 means for clarification of treated wastewater from the aeration means, the clarification means being in direct fluid communication with the aeration means and means for outputting finally treated effluent; 
 
 means for diffusing air into the aeration means; 
 means for pumping air in fluid communication with the diffusing means; and 
 means for filtering connected to an outlet pipe in the clarification means and the filtering means comprising:
 brush filter means comprising a brush filter assembly including a substantially open cylindrical frame element having two substantially annular plastic end ring portions being rigidly connected by a plurality of co-axially aligned plastic rods and an outlet face side portion having formed therein an outlet line access port substantially perpendicular to and extending away from the plurality of plastic rods, and a first plurality of brush rope elements vertically attached between and around an outer circumference of the two substantially annular plastic end ring portions and co-axially aligned with the plurality of plastic rods to substantially cover around an outer side surface and a second plurality of brush rope elements horizontally attached across a bottom one of the substantially annular plastic end ring portions, and 
 flow equalization means including standard flow means, elevated flow means, and peak flow means. 
 
 
     
     
       33. The wastewater treatment apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the standard flow means comprises a ¼ inch diameter opening formed in the filtering means at least about 1 ¾ inches below a bottom of the outlet tube.